Best RC Blimps

Review & Comparison, Last Update October 27, 2018

Are you running out of ideas of how to surprise your little angels on the upcoming holidays? A new RC blimp flying around the house will surely leave them breathless! Check out our review of the 5 most popular models of the RC blimps and choose the one that best suits your kids' taste, age, and preferences....Read more...Read less

There is a 3-channel multi-speed infrared remote control which allows you to direct and lift the blimp with convenient thrusters.

CONS

It requires thorough assembling.

OUR VERDICT

It is a very impressive RC toy that can fascinate not only kids but also adults. If some of your friends buy this RC blimp, then you will be able to have fun and compete all together to determine the most dexterous pilot.

This RC Micro Blimp can be recharged with Micro B USB, that spares you the need to keep purchasing the batteries for its operation.

CONS

Compatible only with iOS. USB cable should be purchased separately.

OUR VERDICT

This spectacular micro RC Blimp will be a good alternative for older children, as its control is a little more sophisticated than of a usual blimp. The manufacturer claims that the skills gained at piloting the blimp may come in handy if your kid decided to become an astronaut.

The envelope in the shape of a shark is made of high-quality tough nylon, which can safely and easily bounce off the randomly located objects and can withstand repeated inflation and deflation.

CONS

Quickly deflates.

OUR VERDICT

This RC blimp will please and delight not only children but also adults. It will nicely complement and add a zest to any Halloween party. Also, we believe it will be appreciated by people with a good sense of humor who cannot live without good-old pranks.

The operating range is one of the largest among similar toys on the market and makes 50 feet, that allows you to steer and direct the RC blimp as needed even at large distances. The toy boasts a long-lasting rechargeable battery.

CONS

The pupils of the eyes are missing. Feel free to take the marker and add two bold dots in the middle of the eyes.

OUR VERDICT

For all young admirers of so popular Angry Birds computer games and cartoons, this is a fantastic opportunity to play with the Angry Bird in the open space of their house. This is an excellent RC blimp both for kids and adults.

Smooth and life-like swimming motion of this air-fish will fascinate and delight not only young admirers of Nemo but also many hard-to-please adults.

CONS

Instructions are not quite clear.

OUR VERDICT

It is a wonderful gift of real fun and entertainment that will surely please and delight every child. This RC blimp in the shape of a clownfish carelessly swimming in the air can make you feel that you are inside a large fish bowl.

ZEP-AIR Explorer RC Blimp

Let Your Inner Child Out To Play

ZEP-AIR has released a real airship that will fly around your home and fill your kid’s heart with positive emotions. In fact, not only kids but also many adults will be fascinated and amazed by this RC toy and its versatility. There is a reason why they say that there is a child in all of us. Even most sophisticated and serious people are merely children inside. See for yourself, but we believe that most parents will find this toy irresistible. Having allowed your inner child to take over, you will enjoy playing with this RC toy and sending sweet messages or small gifts of love to your loved ones.

If you keep wondering how this miraculous toy can be used, then we can say that everything depends on your creativity. Feel free to use your imagination to the fullest and come up with exciting challenges and competitions to entertain your family and friends.

The rescue play accessories thoughtfully included in the kit will enable your kiddo to conduct a thrilling rescue operation. With the help of a special hook, he will be able to pick up a lightweight object and move it to the desired location. The incredible multiplayer mode will allow your child and his friends compete with each other and fly up to 4 RC blimps together.

Smooth And Seamless Operation

With the innovative 3-channel infrared remote control you can easily direct it anywhere you need. The convenient remote is equipped with multi-speed directional and lift control thrusters, which will allow you to steer the airship in the right direction and lift it up in the air, choosing preferable speed. The operating range of the device is around 20 feet (or full 6 meters).

The RC blimp motor and the remote run on one 9V and one AAA NiMH 2.4V batteries, which are not included in the kit and will need to be purchased separately. No worries, the cost of these items should be quite negligible.

Who Is The Most Dexterous Pilot?

Have fun all together! Enjoy the race! See who gets to the final destination first and who turns out to be the most dexterous pilot!

You can always add some obstacles, challenges or special tasks to make the race more exciting. Imagine how much fun the kids will have if they have to fly the blimp through a hoop, pick up and safely transfer an object to the destination, or simply maneuver the airship around the obstacles (e.g. cans of coke) without knocking them over!

Fly Freely But Securely

Like most other RC blimps, this airship is highly advised to be operated only indoors. The body of the RC blimp is like an inflated balloon. If you take it outdoors it can keep going up and up in the air or will be carried away by the gentlest breeze. A free-roaming airship can fly off beyond the operating range into the great unknown and never return. Yet, if you decide to fly it in the open air, we advise doing it securely, tethering your flying airship to a fine cord. That will limit the altitude of its soaring as well as provide you with confidence and control.

Plantraco RC Micro Blimp

UFO In Your Living-room

If you once happen to notice an unidentified flying object in your living room, then do not rush to assume that the aliens paid you a visit. It may well be just a new RC toy for your child, namely RC Micro Blimp from Plantraco.

The manufacturer claims that this RC blimp is the world’s first RC flying saucer that can be controlled over Bluetooth from your smartphone.

We also want to note that unlike many similar RC blimps, this model does not run on ordinary AA or AAA batteries. It is powered by a lithium-ion battery that can be recharged via the Micro-B USB cable. In our opinion, this is quite convenient, since there is no need to keep spending money on additional elements of the power supply.

Piloting A Flying Saucer From An iPhone

Pair your flying saucer via Bluetooth 4.0 connection with one of your smart Apple devices, such as iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, and enjoy seamless and hassle-free operation of your airship. The operating system must be upgraded to at least iOS 6.0 or higher.

Note, this RC blimp is not compatible with other gadgets that run on different types of software; the application is available exclusively for Apple products.

Real Training For Future Astronauts

The navigation of this flying saucer will be both a breeze and a pleasure, although it may take some time to get used to it. The application allows you to direct the RC Blimp both up and down, as well as steer it in different directions. Each of the propellers can be controlled separately and proportionally, which provides even more enhanced control over the operation of this device. Your kid will love precisely navigating the flying saucer from his iPhone as well as proportional fingertip control of soars and dives of the blimp. Feel free to experiment by adding other paper fins to the envelope or trying out other helium balloons.

The manufacturer believes that the skills of piloting this micro RC blimp will come in handy if your kid decides to become a real astronaut.

Free-Roaming Blimp – Safe To Have Around

From the parent’s point of view, there are few benefits of RC blimp in comparison with e.g. RC helicopters or airplanes. For starters, the envelope of an ordinary RC blimp also referred to as a hull, is typically made of nylon or similar soft and lightweight but durable material. Being filled with helium, it flies at a slow speed and makes for a perfectly smooth flight. Even if the blimp bumps into an object it is most likely to merely bounce off straight away and float in the other direction. An RC helicopter could cause substantially more damage.

You are double happy: as your treasured vase or lamp is safe, and your kid is happy to pilot such a marvelous device.

Additional Info

William Mark Air Swimmers RC Flying Shark

Battery Powered Predator

In 2011, William Mark company created a real stir at the exhibition of toys in New York. They introduced their RC shark toy and instantaneously made a sensation. In fact, its realistic appearance, smooth floating in the air, and a large size create the impression that a real predator is approaching you from the depths of the ocean. The view of the shark dazzles not only naïve or so-easy-to-fool-around children but also adults.

As for the control, it is very convenient and extremely simple. The remote control allows you to steer the shark as only your heart desires and easily direct it up and down, or turn it all 360 degrees around. The tail part is furnished with an integrated operating unit, which makes the tail move and steers the shark in a desirable direction.

The flying shark runs on 4 AAA batteries: 1 of them powers the body and 3 batteries are required for the controller.

Best Prank Item Of All Times

Naturally, this air swimmer will be an excellent entertainment on any kids’ party. Besides, this shark will become the favorite attribute of people with a good sense of humor who cannot live a day without a good prank. Just imagine how surprised your relatives or friends will be when completely out of the blue such a predator nonchalantly floats into the living room to greet and entertain the guests.

This floating shark can also marvelously defuse the tension and lighten things up in any workplace if you decide to pull this joke on your bored-to-death colleagues.

This RC toy will surely be able to juice up both kids’ and adults’ long-time favorite holiday of Halloween. We believe, the All Hallow’s Eve will be a suitable occasion to discreetly remind your guests of such a scary but legendary movie as "Jaws" directed by Steven Spielberg.

Swimming In The Air With Lifelike Motion

It is worth noting that to make a shark look as convincing as possible and swim through the air with lifelike motion as it should, it is necessary to fill it with pure helium, without any additives or mixtures. Inflated with pure helium it will become as light as a feather and float effortlessly through the air. You and your kids will definitely find the maneuverability of the toy truly enjoyable.

By the way, it is worth highlighting quite an impressive operating range of approximately 40 feet. It will allow you to stay from your shark far enough during its smooth journey around the house and take your guests completely by surprise, making them wonder where it came from.

For Safe Home Swimming

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the envelope itself is made of a high-quality and tough nylon. Therefore, when the shark accidentally bumps into the objects, it won’t burst (unless it is the sharp teeth of your dog), it will simply bounce straight off. At the same time, the envelope can be repeatedly refilled over and over again. The only thing we need to warn you about is that the product does not hold the helium for long. In only a week, the shark usually needs to be inflated again. Therefore, many users found it quite pricey to fill it every time with helium at a nearby party or grocery store and bought a disposable helium tank for home use instead.

As we pointed out the toy is so lightweight that it can be easily carried away by the gentlest of breezes. So, the manufacturer recommends using it only indoors. But we think there will be no harm in taking your shark for a "swim" in the open air on a warm windless day, as long as it stays carefully tethered to a fine cord.

Additional Info

William Mark Air Swimmers Angry Birds

Angry Birds In Da House!

As it turned out, your kid can now play with the popular cartoon and game character Angry Bird not only on PCs, tablets, or smartphones but also in real life. Thanks to William Mark company, the Angry Bird character got a new life, and now these trendy birds can race and compete not only on the screen but also in the wide-open space of your living room.

This toy will be an excellent addition to any kids’ party. Moreover, if your children are young admirers of the Angry Birds’ games or cartoons, once they clap their amazed eyes on a real thing floating nonchalantly around their bedroom, they will surely be breathless with astonishment. The Angry Bird will make a great addition to your kid’s birthday party or any other gathering of the little troublemakers. We guarantee your kids’ party to be a real blast, as it will be impossible to tear them away from the floating-in-the-air Angry Bird! It looks so bright, colorful, and realistic that it will completely immerse the kids in the atmosphere of a game and bring the angry birds’ magic to life.

Let Angry Birds Work Their Magic

This fantastic RC toy runs on a patented advanced Air Swimmer Turbo technology, that enables your toy to glide smoothly and effortlessly through the air even in the smallest rooms. The RC Bird features a remarkable 360-degree control and intuitive Auto Swim mode for easier operation. Everyone including the youngest members of your family will be able to pilot the Bird.

So, the manufacturer ensured that your kids’ fun time will last a good while before the recharge is needed. Hence, your kid will be able to enjoy flying the Angry Bird around for more than an hour on a single battery charge.

Intuitive Piloting And Control

The RC bird is very simple to direct and control. It immediately responds to the commands. The controller features a special key that lifts the bird up or plunges it down, and another one that controls the movement of the tail, that steers the bird in the left or right direction. There is also a button that switches on and off the automatic tail movement.

The envelope of the toy is made of a high-quality durable material that will keep the helium inside for a long time and will the bird inflated for weeks. However, when the time comes it can be easily refilled again and again without losing its shape or falling apart. Certainly, you can inflate the toy in the nearby shop that sells helium balloons or make a one-time purchase of a disposable helium tank for convenient and hassle-free home use and toy refill whenever needed.

In the end of the day, it remains to find the appropriate cardboard boxes and build the castle out of them to see how the game in Angry Birds would look and feel like in real life.

The Last But Not Least

The operating range of the remote control for this flying Angry Bird may reach incredible 50 feet. We only hope your house is spacious enough to verify this fact for yourselves and you will enjoy more freedom and maneuverability that comes from operating the toy at a larger distance.

Additional Info

William Mark Air Swimmers RC Flying Clownfish

Finding Nemo

It is impossible to find a child who would not be delighted with a sweet and lovely cartoon movie “Finding Nemo”. Imagine a quiet Saturday afternoon, when you and your kids immersed yourselves into watching Finding Nemo and then a real Nemo clownfish swims into your living room! Your toddlers will be over the moon with joy and excitement!

Now the dream of every child can come true, as the protagonist of this wonderful animated movie can now soar and dive in the air right in front of your toddler's eyes, or suddenly pop up to greet your honeypie on a birthday morning.

William Mark presents to your attention the RC Blimp in the shape of a clownfish. This flying fish swims very smoothly and realistically, giving you the feeling that you are in a giant fish bowl, aquarium, or in the depth of the ocean. In a word, life-like swimming motion of this clownfish creates an indescribable feeling and unbelievable sight, which can fascinate not only children but also many adults.

Assembling Nemo

What will please all parents is a simple and intuitive assembling of the entire toy. However, it should be noted that the included instructions are not quite clear and coherent. Hence, we recommend simply watching the YouTube video. It is very detailed and clearly demonstrates all the steps of the assembling process. Thanks to these clear instructions, assembling the toy will be a breeze. At the same time, all the necessary elements and components are readily available in the kit.

If you have lightweight and fragile items around your house (e.g. vases, glasses, decorative sets, or priceless China), we recommend hiding them away in a safe storage place, as they can be easily knocked over. Otherwise, this fun flying RC Blimp is much safer to have around in the house than most of the remote-control cars, helicopters, or airplanes. Its main advantage lies in the fact that it can simply bounce straight off the surface of any objects without causing any tangible damage. So, it is by far the safest of all the remote-control toys.

Simplicity– Bimplicity Of Operation

Even the youngest pilots will be able to fly the clownfish around the house. It comes with a convenient and intuitive remote control, which is furnished with two keys for controlling the climbs and dives or turning the fish all 360 degrees around. In fact, the fish turns left or right due to the corresponding fish-like tail movement, which in turn adds to the blimp’s realistic appearance. The clownfish will eagerly respond to your commands and move up and down owing to the presence of a receiver in the belly area, which catches the signals from the infrared remote. It is also equipped with a power supply and a balancing weight to keep the floating fish from soaring up to the ceiling at all times.

This fantastic floating in the air Nemo will provide your kids with hours of remote control indoor entertainment even in the smallest premises. 4 AAA batteries would suffice to power the whole unit and the remote for hours of continuous fun and operation. Trust us, the remote control has never been so magical!

Piloting From A Distance

You can control the toy from a distance of around 40 feet which is more than a decent range for indoor entertainment. So, given the impressive dimensions of the fish, we wouldn’t recommend flying it in a house with low ceilings, many doors, and small rooms, as this large-sized fish will take up most of your valuable space. Besides, it has to remain in the line-of-sight of the controller.

In a word, this is an incredible RC toy that will juice up any party and give an unforgettable time to your family and guests.

Additional Info

What is an RC Blimp

With the endless diversity of toys, the top positions of the kids’ wish lists have long been occupied by the remote control vehicles. The models of RC toys have become so sophisticated, realistic, and advanced that they cannot leave even most serious adults indifferent. Teenagers have fallen a long time ago for RC boat racing and it is not uncommon for parents to fight with their children over who would pilot a new RC helicopter or an RC airplane.

In this review, we would like to present to your attention another fantastic flying RC toy – an RC Blimp. This remote control toy features the simplest principle of operation, but its smooth flight and maneuverability will thrill and excite both you and your child. Thanks to the remote control, an RC blimp can safely fly around the house, carry a variety of small loads, compete with other flying RC vehicles and a lot more. RC blimps may take not only the classic form of a zeppelin but also a form of a fish, shark, bird etc. Read our review to find out more about 5 most popular models of RC blimps and choose the one that best suits your taste and preferences. With such great RC blimp options that you will find in our review, choosing the perfect one will be truly a snap.

Fortunately, there is a countless number of games and toys not only to entertain and amuse your little angels but also aid them in the development of their cognitive or social skills. Over the past few decades, the world of kids’ toys has literally exploded in the diversity of new models, featuring both realistic designs and high-tech solutions. Along with amazing Video Game Consoles, there appeared intelligent Toy Robots, true-to-life Car Toys, and incredibly colorful Dollhouses.

RC boat racing has gained so much in popularity over the past years that it would be so great to give your kiddo an opportunity to experience the excitement and exhilaration of the race. Have a look at our review of the best RC boats and surprise your thrill-seeking kiddo with a new RC vehicle.

What Features to Compare

Since most of the readers of this review are looking for a toy to impress and entertain their child, we can say that normally kids of a younger age wouldn’t care about the technical characteristics and other parameters of the toy, what matters most to a kid is its appearance! Perhaps, all they wish to get is a toy that would take their breath away as soon as they clap their eyes on it! Maybe it could be a popular cartoon character that they have seen only on the screen. Imagine their excitement when they see their beloved Angry Bird flying around their bedroom! Yippie! And in your child’s eyes, you instantaneously become the parents of the year! So, when choosing an RC blimp, think about the shape of the flying airship that your little angel will be thrilled to see.

When choosing the shape of the blimp, you will inevitably need to take into consideration its dimensions too. The size of the flying dirigibles can vary from tiny models to quite large ones. Of course, in this respect, everything can depend on your personal preferences as well as the spaciousness of your house (e.g.the number of rooms or the height from floor to ceilings). However, we can’t help pointing out that RC Blimps of large size look a way more spectacular and breathtaking.

The last but far not least of the factors to take into account is the type of the RC blimp control. The prevailing majority of the models have the infrared type of remote control. They may differ, however, in the number of speeds that the blimp offers (whether it is an ordinary one-speed model or an innovative multi-speed one). One of the minor disadvantages of this type of blimps is that you have to keep pointing the remote at the RC toy. In presence of the obstacles, the control won’t probably work. Other types of airships can be connected via Bluetooth to one of your smart devices and controlled via a special application on a smartphone. The only thing you would need to verify is whether the RC blimp application is compatible with your smartphone software.

Lastly, note that the models presented in our review feature the distance range from 20 to 50 feet. It is up to you to decide how critical this factor is to you.

FAQ:

Q: Why does an RC Blimp float?

A: The secret of every RC blimp is helium gas that fills the envelope and makes the blimp stay aloft. This safe inert gas has density far smaller than the density of the air, that lifts the blimp in the air, gives it buoyancy, and makes it airborne.

Q: Can I blow up an RC blimp myself?

A: Not if you wish to see your blimp actually fly. Helium gas is needed for the RC blimp to soar up into the air.

Q: Are the RC Blimps safe to use at home?

A: We believe, the helium-filled RC toys are by far the safest, cleanest, and quietest remote control fun, that you can get. They hardly ever run the risk of suffering the crash damage, they would merely bounce straight off the object's surface. The worst thing that could happen is puncturing the envelope with something sharp (such as your home pet’s teeth). The bottom line is unless your little troublemakers get involved into something truly reckless, RC blimps are absolutely safe to have around.

Q: Where can I take my RC blimp to be filled with helium?

A: Any shop selling helium balloons will gladly refill your toy for a small fee. The common places include the florist shops, party stores, or various sections of the grocery store. Be careful when you walk with your inflated toy back to the car. Hold on tight to it or it can fly away.

As an alternative solution, some users prefer purchasing a disposable helium tank for a convenient and hassle-free refill whenever needed. If you buy several RC blimps, one tank will refill them all.

Q: How much will the helium refill cost?

A: It depends on the area where you live in, but the common prices of helium on the US market vary between 50 cents and 1 US dollar per cubic foot (hence, take into consideration the volume of your toy).

Q: What is the envelope made of? Are there any advantages or disadvantages of common materials?

A: Every manufacturer chooses their own material, but the most popular choice on the market is nylon and Mylar. They are both tough, durable, and lightweight, but they have their differences.

Nylon is more rigid but may show wrinkles instead of smooth contours, which can be considered as its aesthetic drawback. It can be printed with ease, but it doesn’t stretch, so be careful when you are refilling your nylon blimp, as it has the higher odds of accidentally bursting if overinflated.

Mylar is more suitable for micro blimps. It wonderfully holds helium but can be easily torn apart.

Q: How can the altitude of my location affect the operation of the blimp?

A: The higher the elevation of your house over the sea level the lower the blimp will soar. However, many manufacturers recommend flying the blimp at the altitudes of up to 6000 feet. Should you live in the mountain area with high elevation, do not waste your money buying any helium-filled toy. But you can certainly benefit from regular RC vehicles.

Q: Can I see the battery level?

A: It is safe to say that most models available on the market do not display the remaining battery charge. All we can say, enjoy the fun while it lasts.